ATL: Week 1

Kerb Hohl · Post #1 » by **Kerb Hohl** » Fri Aug 29, 2014 8:15 pm

Aldon Smiff suspended 9 games.

Balls2TheWalls · Post #2 » by **Balls2TheWalls** » Fri Aug 29, 2014 11:11 pm

About time he got a substantial suspension. He has had one of the most eventful records away from the game.

wichmae · Post #3 » by **wichmae** » Fri Aug 29, 2014 11:32 pm

Law firm released

Post #4 » by **MickeyDavis** » Fri Aug 29, 2014 11:44 pm

It's always interesting to see who gets cut this time of year. And to see how the practice squad takes shape.

El Duderino · Post #5 » by **El Duderino** » Sat Aug 30, 2014 3:16 am

MickeyDavis wrote:It's always interesting to see who gets cut this time of year. And to see how the practice squad takes shape.

I hope Ted scours the released OL guys really hard because that's the biggest concern i have depth wise.

Newz · Post #6 » by **Newz** » Tue Sep 2, 2014 2:57 pm

Watt only got 6 years, $100 million with around $50 million guaranteed. I know that's a huge deal and all... but I expected him to get even more. If he continues his current pace of play he will be in the discussion for the best defensive player ever.

jakecronus8 · Post #7 » by **jakecronus8** » Tue Sep 2, 2014 3:04 pm

I remember being told I was a ridiculous homer for hoping JJ would slide to Green Bay in the first round. He is incredible. Just read a graphic that over the last two seasons he leads the NFL in sacks, tackles for loss, QB hits, knockdowns, batted passes and DE tackles. It's absurd how disruptive he is.

Suh reportedly turned down similar money from Detroit. Hilarious. He's nowhere near as disruptive and is sliding by on his fake tough guy image.

Newz · Post #8 » by **Newz** » Tue Sep 2, 2014 3:13 pm

I don't think I ever called anyone a ridiculous homer, but I do remember watching Watt in college and thinking he could be a very good NFL player and a good defensive linemen. I thought a lot of Wisconsin fans were going a little overboard on him though. I viewed him as more of a very late 1st, early 2nd round talent.

Turns out he might be the best defensive player in NFL history.

Woops.

Ron Swanson · Post #9 » by **Ron Swanson** » Tue Sep 2, 2014 3:16 pm

Yeah, Watt deserves every penny of that deal and probably more. The guy is an absolute freak.

The real question is how good is that Texans D going to be when they get a better secondary? A pass rush of Watt, Clowney, Mercilus, and Reed is absolutely terrifying...

Newz · Post #10 » by **Newz** » Tue Sep 2, 2014 3:25 pm

Ron Swanson wrote:Yeah, Watt deserves every penny of that deal and probably more. The guy is an absolute freak.

The real question is how good is that Texans D going to be when they get a better secondary? A pass rush of Watt, Clowney, Mercilus, and Reed is absolutely terrifying...

Yeah, that defense could potentially be dominant. Their defensive front could rival (or I guess surpass) something like the Packers put together when they had White and company.

I will say the next great Wisconsin player looks like it will be Melvin Gordon. I don't think that guy is cut out to be an every down back in the NFL, but he could very easily be a guy like Jamal Charles and possibly better. That dude has all of the talent in the world and could be a legit NFL star.

PkrsBcksGphsMqt · Post #11 » by **PkrsBcksGphsMqt** » Tue Sep 2, 2014 4:10 pm

I don't see the Charles comparison at all. Gordon has like, what, 3 career receptions at UW? If he can prove to be a good-to-great receiver then I could possibly see the comparison. Also, UW running backs are always overrated going into the NFL because of the offensive lines they had in college. Arguably every UW running back since the beginning of the Alvarez era has underwhelmed in the pros compared to their respective expectations. Ron Dayne, Michael Bennett, Anthony Davis, John Clay, Brian Calhoun, etc. were all disappointments. We'll see how Montee Ball, James White, and Gordon do. I do think Gordon could break that trend, I'm not as sold on Ball and White though.

Newz · Post #12 » by **Newz** » Tue Sep 2, 2014 4:24 pm

PkrsBcksGphsMqt wrote:I don't see the Charles comparison at all. Gordon has like, what, 3 career receptions at UW? If he can prove to be a good-to-great receiver then I could possibly see the comparison. Also, UW running backs are always overrated going into the NFL because of the offensive lines they had in college. Arguably every UW running back since the beginning of the Alvarez era has underwhelmed in the pros compared to their respective expectations. Ron Dayne, Michael Bennett, Anthony Davis, John Clay, Brian Calhoun, etc. were all disappointments. We'll see how Montee Ball, James White, and Gordon do. I do think Gordon could break that trend, I'm not as sold on Ball and White though.

I didn't like Ball coming out at all. I mean he isn't terrible or anything. He will probably be an okay NFL player. I think he was picked way, way too high in the draft though.

Gordon is a freak. I don't watch a ton of college football, but when I catch Badger games he is the guy who stands out. I personally do not think he is just the product of the offensive line. No prospect is a sure thing, but to me Gordon looks like about as close to a sure thing as you are going to get at RB. That Gurley kid looks like he will be unbelievable in the pros as well.

I VERY rarely advocate drafting a back early on in the draft. Gordon is one of those guys I'd consider snatching up in the first round though.

GB_Packers · Post #13 » by **GB_Packers** » Tue Sep 2, 2014 11:31 pm

Welker suspended for first four games for violating the drug policy. I guess back at the Kentucky Derby he took some Molly cut with amphetamines. Last guy I would have expected to get busted for drugs. I'm always so worried a key guy for us will get busted for something like this and then they are gone for a key stretch of games.

Ayt · Post #14 » by **Ayt** » Wed Sep 3, 2014 12:31 am

jakecronus8 wrote:I remember being told I was a ridiculous homer for hoping JJ would slide to Green Bay in the first round. He is incredible. Just read a graphic that over the last two seasons he leads the NFL in sacks, tackles for loss, QB hits, knockdowns, batted passes and DE tackles. It's absurd how disruptive he is.

Suh reportedly turned down similar money from Detroit. Hilarious. He's nowhere near as disruptive and is sliding by on his fake tough guy image.

I talked up JJ to us in that draft before he absolutely tore it up for a man his size at the combine. After that, there was no chance. He was one of the best collegiate DE's I've ever seen and had basically no real weaknesses as an NFL prospect.

I still remember fans on the FF Texans board thinking they got some try hard white stiff.

PkrsBcksGphsMqt · Post #15 » by **PkrsBcksGphsMqt** » Wed Sep 3, 2014 1:01 am

Saw the Welker/molly story on SB Nation. Welker won like $50,000 at the Derby and at the time it seemed like had a hell of a day at the track. SB Nation posed the question, was it worth it? And I seriously think it might have been haha.

MartyConlonOnTheRun · Post #16 » by **MartyConlonOnTheRun** » Wed Sep 3, 2014 1:35 am

The 49ers are my favorite to be the team that barely makes it in as a wild card and rolls in the playoffs. They will struggle throughout the year and have a healthy smith and McDonald give them a second half push.

vegaspacker · Post #17 » by **vegaspacker** » Wed Sep 3, 2014 3:34 am

PkrsBcksGphsMqt wrote:I don't see the Charles comparison at all. Gordon has like, what, 3 career receptions at UW? If he can prove to be a good-to-great receiver then I could possibly see the comparison. Also, UW running backs are always overrated going into the NFL because of the offensive lines they had in college. Arguably every UW running back since the beginning of the Alvarez era has underwhelmed in the pros compared to their respective expectations. Ron Dayne, Michael Bennett, Anthony Davis, John Clay, Brian Calhoun, etc. were all disappointments. We'll see how Montee Ball, James White, and Gordon do. I do think Gordon could break that trend, I'm not as sold on Ball and White though.

I love Gordon's ability. I see him as a middle-class man's AP. Although, no-one has All Days open field speed... if WI rode this stallion like Big Red did - his uber-competitive nature and skill would be more appreciated.

jimmybones · Post #18 » by **jimmybones** » Wed Sep 3, 2014 10:06 pm

PkrsBcksGphsMqt wrote:Saw the Welker/molly story on SB Nation. Welker won like $50,000 at the Derby and at the time it seemed like had a hell of a day at the track. SB Nation posed the question, was it worth it? And I seriously think it might have been haha.

raysbookclub · Post #19 » by **raysbookclub** » Thu Sep 4, 2014 1:12 am

MartyConlonOnTheRun wrote:The 49ers are my favorite to be the team that barely makes it in as a wild card and rolls in the playoffs. They will struggle throughout the year and have a healthy smith and McDonald give them a second half push.

That's possible, MartyConlon. I see the Seahawks and Packers and Saints in the playoffs for sure, Eagles too in a very weak East, and it's not hard to imagine the Niners squeaking into a wild card over the Lions, Bears, Falcons, or Bucs.

HKPackFan · Post #20 » by **HKPackFan** » Thu Sep 4, 2014 6:00 am

PkrsBcksGphsMqt wrote:I don't see the Charles comparison at all. Gordon has like, what, 3 career receptions at UW? If he can prove to be a good-to-great receiver then I could possibly see the comparison. Also, UW running backs are always overrated going into the NFL because of the offensive lines they had in college. Arguably every UW running back since the beginning of the Alvarez era has underwhelmed in the pros compared to their respective expectations. Ron Dayne, Michael Bennett, Anthony Davis, John Clay, Brian Calhoun, etc. were all disappointments. We'll see how Montee Ball, James White, and Gordon do. I do think Gordon could break that trend, I'm not as sold on Ball and White though.

I was going to mention Terrell Fletcher as the exception, but his overall career numbers were nothing impressive. Yet I'd say he caught the ball out of the backfield really well, and he excelled at that and had a fairly long career in San Diego. I just googled his name and it mentioned he married Will Smith's ex-wife? Wah?

I always thought Brent Moss was going to be the NFL guy of that tandem, but it was Fletcher. I remember being in College those days and some Brent Moss drug rumors used to be going around campus.